98 THE ESSEX FOXHOUNDS. 



decided advantage over racing. x^t Newmarket, when 

 races of the greatest interest are run — races on which 

 enormous sums are staked, and for which the best cattle in 

 England are entered — the peasantry who are engaged in 

 agricultural pursuits in the vicinity of the course scarcely 

 think it worth their while to turn their heads from their 

 ploughs and harrows to see how the contest proceeds ; but 

 when a fox is out, Hodge, the instant that he is aware of the 

 fact, quits his ploughs, and harrows, and all, and away he 

 scampers after the hounds. This shows how exhilarating 

 and delightful a sport it must be. But its advantages are 

 numerous and important. It is not that the physical frame 

 of man is invigorated by it, and his intellect made clear 

 and strong, but by means of this noble amusement habits 

 are acquired which fit a man for the creditable discharge of 

 other and more important duties. Depend upon it, no 

 successful foxhunter was ever a fool. He must not only 

 be a man of sense, but he must have a good eye, a ready 

 hand, a cool head ; he must be capable of enduring great 

 fatigue ; he must, above all, have great nerve, and an un- 

 swerving determination to accomplish the object he has in 

 view, no matter what difficulties and obstacles may present 

 themselves in his way. It is upon these qualities that the 

 national character of Britons is based. But, to return to 



